Let’s continue the unfinished conversation among adults.

The previous explosion was merely to buy time.

The real start will begin when that weapon leaves his hands and is passed to those who desire terrorism.

The butterfly effect that will occur when that weapon turns this place into a wasteland.

The goal of the person in front of me is to profit from the demand for weapons arising from that.

“…Yes, as you say, it’s an era where everyone cries out for peace.”

Yet, he had no sense of guilt.

“I’m someone who’s been driven out from all of that.”

“What…”

“Waden. Let me ask you one question, taking advantage of this fateful meeting.”

No, moreover, even politeness could be felt.

As if truly asserting that he himself is right.

“Let’s say a child who grew up just receiving parental love one day loses their hometown to bombing… And they learn that the one who swept it away was an officer from the enemy country. If that child burned with revenge, wouldn’t they naturally enlist in the army of the opposing force and take up arms?”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying that coolheadedness is always the role of the collective. No matter how much they say they ended the war to break the chain of hatred, can individual emotions really be controlled by such calculations of interests?”

A sneer gradually forming on his lips.

“Some are still grieving, angry, and craving revenge for the loss of their hometown and family. The grudge born from that, that injustice!! The ideals of those who have been yearning for what they’ve already lost were buried along with the end of the war!”

Although they say it’s a thing of the past, there are bound to be those who can’t forget it.

Everything is ruined by unwanted events, and there are those who live solely for revenge.

In such a situation, should they put aside all those emotions and step back just because people they don’t even know declare it’s ‘over’?

How is that different from living with one’s will suppressed by external coercion?

“And what I’m doing is responding to the unfulfilled wishes of such people and receiving a ‘fee’ for it…”

Of course, he’s not a spokesperson for justice, but just a businessman.

“Don’t you think that in itself is a humane thing?”

“Nonsense…!”

“It was your father who collaborated with that madman.”

The same goes for Waden’s father, who is pointing a weapon at him.

Even if not now, in the past, he had the same ideals as himself.

“The school uniform you’re wearing now, the fact that you could rise to the position of the Disciplinary Committee.”

A bitter smile forms on Reynold’s lips as he eyes Waden’s attire.

“You couldn’t have worn those if that father hadn’t dirtied his hands. And the reason your father invested in you is because he too is not free from his own emotions. Because he’s come too far to atone, he hopes that at least you will fulfill it on his behalf…”

-Bang!!

The trigger pulled, unable to withstand those emotions.

The mana filled in the cartridge expanded, propelling the loaded bullet forward.

Precisely towards Reynold’s head.

-Clang!

But the fired lead bullet was blocked with sparks, unable to penetrate his head.

“…Hahaha! My, aren’t you hot-tempered. Didn’t your father teach you not to get excited during negotiations?”

Reynold, who had removed the hand blocking his head, began to swagger in front of Waden.

It was a result Waden hadn’t expected at all.

What he fired was a lethal blow with penetrating power capable of piercing not only flesh but even shields strong enough to form a circle.

“What is that…”

“I told you, didn’t I? It’s a weapon made with ancient technology.”

-Clink, click.

Metal sounds began to come from Reynold’s arm that had blocked the attack.

The moment what was hidden under the glove torn by the bullet was revealed. But it’s not an ordinary hand.

A metal mechanical device mimicking the human body.

“A product of ancient technology that replaces the human body, its technological prowess is incomparable to the gun you’re holding. Naturally, it’s a structure impossible to mass-produce as it’s impossible to analyze with our eyes.”

Eventually, the metal arm is revealed along with the completely torn sleeve.

As the internal parts began to operate with mana, a series of vibrations erupted with a fierce noise.

Yes, as he said, it’s a product of excessive technology incomparable to the gun in his hand.

Although much smaller than the clock tower they were in, it was deemed impossible to make with modern engineering technology.

“Why did such amazing technology exist hundreds of years ago, and why is it only being excavated now? Waden, can you guess the reason?”

“Get back!!”

Waden aims the gun at him again and pulls the trigger repeatedly.

The gunshots echoed through the clock tower again, but Reynold deflected them all with his metal limbs while closing the distance.

“It’s because the world has always revolved in the hands of the privileged.”

Reynold eventually grabs Waden’s neck and pushes his body towards the wall.

“This ancient technology, and the gun you have… Anyone can make them if they have the technology and knowledge, even without talent, and anyone can enjoy the results. Such convenience must have been seen as an abominable existence threatening the position of those who have accumulated wealth and talent!”

He resisted, but it was futile.

The strength in his grip could break his neck at any moment. The opponent had that much power.

“Do you know what they did? They brought in the most influential religious order at the time, defined everything that threatened their position as heresy, and buried it in the back alleys of history. Those damn anti-intellectuals, swayed by the instigation of the powerful, buried and obsoleted all the crystallization of progress!”

Even the explanation he’s giving to him only teaches that he has that much leisure.

No, beyond that, Reynold was trying to induce sympathy in Waden.

“And such things are happening even now. Waden, you should know. How petty the equality they speak of in Maris… in this city is!!”

“Ack!”

Eventually, Waden collapses as his airway is released.

Then Reynold matches eye level with Waden and whispers to him kindly.

“You surely understand that what’s needed to break such petty ideals is tangible violence.”

Thud.

The moment the mechanical hand landed on his shoulder.

Despite being an object boasting enormous weight, no weight is felt.

That alone was enough to know. That the other person has a mind to respect and consider him.

“So Waden. Let me make a proposal to you on this occasion. Pretend you didn’t see what happened here and go back, and when you meet me again someday, cooperate with me.”

A city collapsing due to chaos.

The political turmoil and strife arising from it.

Realizing that the peace everyone claims is something forcibly achieved in an unstable state, eventually an era unfolds where everyone craves violence again.

“If we use your family’s skills and trading network, and the ancient technology I’ve excavated… It would be no trouble to dominate the era that’s about to unfold.”

If we use the massive demand arising from that as capital, we can rise even higher.

If our existence becomes irreplaceable by anything, we could essentially become beings that dominate everything on this continent.

“Just take my hand. Come on.”

Saying this, Reynold extends his hand in front of Waden.

Waden, who had been staring at it with turbid eyes, swung his empty hand and knocked it away.

“…I refuse.”

The eyes revealed under the removed hat were unchanged from the beginning.

“Waden?”

“I refuse.”

Waden denies again towards Reynold calling his name.

At this, Reynold began to show a regretful expression.

“I said I’d only give you one chance, but in this short conversation, already twice…”

“No matter how many times you ask, it’s the same.”

Even if given infinite chances, he would refuse infinitely.

Especially if that persuasion itself claims ‘justification of weapons’.

“I…”

Didn’t he say it too?

That his father wishes for an era where weapons are no longer needed.

Although atoning belatedly doesn’t erase what he’s done so far, it must be sincere that he doesn’t want to make his son the same as him.

“I will never become like my father.”

He doesn’t want to become like that father.

He might have become that way inevitably, but himself…

He must never, ever become like that.

“…Like father, like son.”

The moment persuasion failed.

Then Reynold, abandoning any lingering attachment, picked up the fallen revolver from the ground and aimed its muzzle.

“Well then, you’ll just have to die here.”

Intending to pronounce the final judgment with what an old acquaintance had prepared for his son.

Waden, staring at that empty muzzle, lifted his bleeding head and thought.

‘Teacher.’

Seine Velvet.

If it were the one who taught him, she would surely have made the same choice as him.

‘…Is this enough?’

Although he hadn’t achieved anything, he would hold onto that belief until the very end.

Just as he was about to close his eyes with such resolve.

“No, that’s a zero.”

A low voice heard from behind.

-Boom!!

Along with it, an explosion rang out, and the muzzle aimed at Waden was flung into the air.

The moment a stone striking the body pushed it away.

“At times like that, you should have begged like a dog to be spared, even if it’s a lie, you fool.”

The one who intruded on the scene with those words was a woman wearing a white gown.

The cigarette in her mouth was something she had never smoked while teaching the Disciplinary Committee.

---

The academic city has a different management system from the academy.

Unlike a place where only students gather, the academic city is full of people with various purposes including research, commerce, politics, tourism, and residence.

It’s essentially a place where things that hadn’t mixed before are all gathered in one place.

Even the slightest confusion there can lead to great danger, so Kariel Aries, the former chairman of Maris, urged those guarding the place one thing:

‘Handle what happens here without anyone knowing.’

Literally, no matter what incident occurs, don’t reveal it externally in a big way, and even if it is revealed, report it in a way that reassures residents by making it seem like a light happening.

That policy was maintained even after Mariel inherited the position of chairman. This applied to the explosion that occurred in the sewer this time as well.

Externally, it was reported that the explosion occurred as a result of gas accumulation due to too much sewage piling up in one place.

But they all sensed it.

It was too weak for an explosion aimed at something, which soon meant that this explosion was just a distraction.

‘A big incident might occur here soon.’

Having come to that conclusion now, each member is searching various parts of the city, and I too have started a personal search to help them a little.

Of course, the first place to search is where those who caused the trouble are likely to be hiding.

A place where people’s interest might drop from where I am right now…

Among them, a place very suitable for plotting, located not far from where I parted with the Disciplinary Committee head.

“T-Teacher.”

Yes, I came out of concern, worried that the child might get involved, but.

Who would have thought the worst situation I had imagined would actually occur.

“Teacher, I…”

“Were you scared?”

I quietly picked up the fallen hat from the ground and put it on the boy collapsed against the wall.

The worry in his eyes looking at me.

Until now, there was fear in those eyes, but now that gaze was directed not at them but at me.

Well, he must be worried about getting scolded for ignoring the warning to not mind and coming alone to punish the villains.

“Go outside. I’ll finish this soon.”

But how could I scold a child who’s merely a victim?

Even if it was a reckless act, it was still for the sake of righteousness.

While there’s room for reflection on reaching out to reckless matters, an educator shouldn’t rebuke the act itself.

“…Yes.”

Waden turned his back and left silently at the chance I gave him.

I, who likewise turned my gaze from the exit, then glared at those remaining at the scene and said.

“Now then, the child has withdrawn. Let’s continue the unfinished conversation among adults.”

“You sons of bitches.”